Friday, November 23, 2007

welfare moms

bill rappleye

can we afford benefits?

Oooh la la…70 percent of you responding to the survey say the Governor’s right, we can NOT afford to support the bad decisions made by single mothers who have babies, and welfare mothers should not receive any extra benefits when they have children.  But the e-mails that follow show there are a number of other opinions besides whether we should pay benefits…like, what kind of benefits, pro-life questions, resources for chasing deadbeat dads…as always, the rap session that follows will have something for everyone.  And if you’ve got new ideas, throw them into comments on the backside. 
bill

It’s takes two to make a baby, not just a women.  Why don’t men step
up and take care of what they help create?  As a single mom of two, not on welfare, it’s hard to raise them when the CSE agency of RI does nothing to help collect back child support.  They threaten to take fathers to jail but never do!  I work every day, but never get ahead due to dead beat dad, not paying court ordered medical, dental and support
Janette, N.K.

Where does that sanctimonious idiot get off about women having babies they can not afford.
Maybe he should look at the state employees who said they would quit their jobs when they lost their FREE child care: employees that were making $30,000.00 a year.
One would hope that changes could be made across the board.
I am on disability and my husband has a good job.  But we do not live large.
I know of a woman who works 3 hrs a day and her kids get FULL time child care that’s correct 8 hrs a day when she works 3 what’s wrong with this picture.  She and her husband own their own home both drive very nice late model cars Lots of money to travel and do whatever they want yearly trips to disney world but I pay for child care for them.  that’s just plain wrong.
The dear old gov NEEDS to look at how services are handed out.
As far as Meals on Wheels the people at the top of that group needs to take a long hard look at how they are stealing money away from the people who need it.
Once again, the poorest of the poor are taking it in the shorts so the administrators can live their nice life styles.
I drive a 95 ford escort.  some months are better than others it’s called LIVING on a BUDGET.  Our elected officials and their political buddies don’t seem to get it.  They need to learn that we the people can not support their lifestyles.  As far as the Gov is concerned this is the 2nd time in the last month that he has made the wrong comments.
If he doesn’t want women to have kids then he needs to support birth control!!!!! 
Judith, Coventry

Single women should receive assistance for an absolute maximum of 2 years. That assistance should not be increased or extended when they have another child that they cannot afford to support.  Support should be in the form of services and vouchers only -no discretionary cash. 
Support should include food, housing, heat, medical benefits, education, job training and child care so that the person can attend school, training or employment. Tough? Yes.  Enabling? No. 
KHS Smithfield

If someone is on welfare already they should not get an increase solely because they have more children. There should be a limit as to how many children are paid for. We can not pay for someone who, for whatever the reason, has more children once they are already on welfare.
Matthew F, Providence

I think if a young mother has to go on welfare because of problems she should be allowed to get benefits, but here is the thing. I do not think that a girl that has been in the system should have anymore children while on welfare and I do not think it is OK for them to be living with guys who do not take responsibility for their actions.
They should try to get some schooling that will help them in the job world so they can get off welfare as soon as possible, and not use their benefits like food stamps etc for their boyfriends. And I think the men should start taking responsibility for the children they father.
Mary, Warwick

No one should have children if they’re unable to provide for them.  Period.  That said, “welfare mothers” should have to work for their benefits, and there should be restrictions on those benefits to break the cycle of dependence.  Too many people use welfare as a sole source of income, rather than the temporary supplement it is intended to be.  The sperm donors should also be held accountable for financial support to the baby born into the situation.  Paternity should be a qualifier for welfare.  Once the father is identified, he should be mandated by law to provide child support in order for the mother to receive the supplemental benefit.
Christine M

Me and my fiancee have two children. He works and I stay home with the children. He makes $18.00 an hour. We barely get by after paying $800.00 for rent. Plus all our utilities plus our car insurance every month. That don’t even count our groceries or diapers for the children.  We applied for food stamps but the state says we make too much but they dont look at all the bill people need to pay. I think they should increase the gross income.

I totally agree with the Governor.  We should not be paying for single mothers to have babies.  If they feel that they need intercourse to satisfy themselves, then condoms are available EVERYWHERE and in many clinics, FREE.  there is no reason to have 3,4,5,6 children - and in some cases with different fathers, I might add -and expect us to pay for them.  It is irresponsible.  I understand as well that if a single mother has 4 children, she gets subsidized housing. more money.  It’s a disgrace.  They are not being held accountable. Then they have the nerve to brag that they are pregnant as if it were an award.  They just have another child and, oh, well, we’ll just increase the welfare benefits.  I would LOVE to sit home and do nothing.  let them go out and get jobs. Let them use their family members who are probably also on welfare to watch the children while they work, 2nd or 3rd shifts if needed. This doesn’t even include the anchor babies that we have in this state. It has to stop.  If the Bishop is so worried about it,  let him take his budget - no not what he asks us to pay for Catholic Charity Fund, but what he has in savings for the Church and pay for the care and health costs of these “poor”. He too will soon have empty pockets.
Laura

Most single mothers, that I know, are young, immature, & not highly educated.  The child should not suffer & must receive benefits.  If only the young were blessed with wisdom of the elders.  Two wrongs won’t make it right.
Barbara E

Absolutely not. These single mothers and their babies should be taken care of by their own parents. It is their responsibility, not the states taxpayers. If it wasn’t for the liberal democrats, we wouldn’t be having this giveaway problem.
Al, No Smithfield

If they pay their mortgages
by taking our money and taking
their cut as the middleman.
The State will never solve
the problems of the poor;
there will be a need to perpetuate it.

Those that are truly concerned
should volunteer and-or donate.
Zuke

I don’t think we should penalize a mother with one or two babies who qualify for welfare.  Its when they start using the system by having more babies and still on welfare that I have a problem. I believe there are some states that limit payments to a two child family and that if they have more than two children while still on welfare, they can only receive based on two children even if they have twelve.
Jerry M, Wakefield

FIRST OF ALL CARCIERI SHOULDN’T HAVE COME OUT HIS MOUTH WITH THAT STATEMENT.  SECONDLY, AS FAR AS BAD DECISIONS ARE CONCERENED CARCIERI DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND MADE TWO BAD DECISIONS BY VOTING HIM INTO OFFICE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST,  THE QUESTION SHOULDN’T BE “SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO GET WELFARE BENEFITS”, IT SHOULD BE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THEM GET OFF WELFARE? BY THE WAY WHERE ARE THE FATHERS OF THESE BABIES? WHY AREN’T THEY BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE? WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY TO AVOID PAYING CHILD SUPPORT? MAYBE IF THE FATHERS WOULD HELP THEY WOULDN’T BE ON WELFARE!
QP, PROVIDENCE

Absolutely not!!!  If a single mother cannot afford to have a child or take care of the one(s) she already has, why should we flip the bill?  As long as we keep giving, they will continue to drain us.  You see these mothers everywhere.  At the mall in the middle of the day, on the street corners, etc.  They have plenty of free time but never have time to look for a job or even keep one.  We make it too easy.  I wish I could sit on my butt all day and get a check from the state, but I was not brought up that way.  You get a good education and a good job and learn to take care of yourself.
Liz, Cumberland

The question was .... If single mothers have a baby is it OK to get welfare benefits?  the majority of people said no, but I disagree!!!  The men who leave there pregnant girl friends are to blame. How the hell do people expect a woman to live when a guy just gets up and leaves and he doesn’t pay child support.  Some men get off with no responsibility of the child. It’s the woman who gets looked at like a trashy welfare person. I think its just awful! I was lucky, I had a child at 19 and my husband suck by me I am now 29 and he is still here. I am a stay at home mother and I don’t know how I could do that without him. It’s the absent parent who should be put in jail!
Bella

dont punish children for the errors of their parents—encourage independence with incentives—positive works better
Russell L

Oh of course not!  We should force them to have their babies in the street and live under bridges.
OR MAYBE WE COULD ALL STOP WHINING AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS OUR HELP
Any more questions?
Paul, Wakefield

Having a baby while on welfare is not the ideal situation there is no doubt. Not all pregnancies are planned.
I don’t mind helping support mothers on Welfare if it saves those babies from death. They did not ask to be born
and should not be aborted because there mom isn’t in the best of financial situations at the time.  I think you are very
judgemental. Put yourself in there shoes wouldn’t you want someone to help you for a bit while you got on your feet.
Are you saying murdering a bunch of unborn babies is better sure if you have no heart and or soul. Cutting services such as childcare for the moms on welfare isn’t going to help them get off welfare it is going to make it harder to get off it. I am not on welfare but I can be sympathetic to there situations.
Sue M

They should absolutely not be entitled to welfare or any other social benefits. There are many two parent families that struggle daily to make ends meet, why should tax dollars be given to someone that has decided to have a child that they cannot afford. These so called “single mothers” need to give some serious consideration to their finances before having a child that they expect the state to help them raise.
I am so proud of Governor Carcieri for identifying this as an issue and I hope we do not continue to enable these poor decisions made by so many in our state
Karen W, Warwick

Absolutely NOT!!!  It would be like me buying a brand new car knowing I don’t have the resources to pay for, and then expecting every taxpayer to pick up the tab. Time for unwed mothers to learn to take precautions, or abstain from having sex.
Lee L

This is a difficult question.  No one wants to see the children suffer.  However, the taxpayers can no longer afford to support these people.  This has become a generational problem and it needs to be stopped.  I say give medical care to the children, but that’s it.  If you want children, get a job and support them yourself like the rest of us do.
Lisa, Newport

I can see one child, things do happen.  When the mother continually gets pregnant so they can live off of the people who work for a living, I say no.  I think if you have one child, we can help out, put the the child in day care and put the mother to work, if she get pregnant again, then she is on her own. 
Me in Coventry

Get real!  How can you deny a child food and shelter. These moms need to work for the State in return for subsidizing their support.  Work out a co-operative day care with the single mothers to allow them to work, even part time, learning a skill and taking responsibility for having a family.
Stop the cycle of dependence..
Liz, South County

Why should we pay from our taxes the welfare for a single mother who keeps having babies just so that she can continue the “Fleecing of America” to get her welfare money?  Where’s the justice in that?  It’s like handing out candy to a kid who’s not supposed to have candy because of being fat or has rotting teeth, yet someone stills hands out the candy to the same fat, rotten, tooth kid!  And that’s all these “Welfare Moms” are, just kids asking for a piece of candy so that they can continue to get fatter on it.  They are a waste of our state’s economy, housing (the more welfare babies they have, the bigger housing the welfare fleecers need), and population controls.  Welfare-single mom’s are not contributing to the population control either. 
C-Ann-C, Coventry

Should married mothers get welfare from the state?  I think its a
conscious decision in today’s day and age, either way.  If the
decision is to have and raise a child, you should figure out if and how you are going to afford to do it, and not expect the taxpayer to foot the bill.  Do I feel bad for these children?  You bet, but I don’t think subsidizing Mom is the best way to take care of that child.  I’m of the older generation.  I believe in consequences and responsibility for your actions, so think before you act.
Claire M

So the Governor thinks that single women who have babies they can’t afford shouldn’t get welfare? What would he propose these women do? Get abortions? I’m sure his wife would have an opinion on that idea. Maybe they state should give all single mothers free birth control, or just outlaw sex outside of marriage altogether so that unplanned pregnancies don’t happen. Very progressive ideas, don’t you think? And don’t the men who father these children bear any responsibility for these “bad decisions”?
Governor, where is your compassion??
Peachy

Of course they should. How could anyone be as cold hearted to say no? Some woman I’ll agree, get pregnant to get welfare, but, many others get pregnant by accident (despite birth control, which many can’t afford or take for health reasons) and they can’t all be put in one neat pile and stamped “ no welfare”. Is anyone thinking about that unborn child? Next you will be voting for mandatory abortions for single woman.
Even with welfare, that child will never have the things other children have with two parents. But let’s hope the child will at least have food, clothing and shelter. This child did not ask to be born under these conditions. Doesn’t this country have enough homeless people? Give the mom welfare at least until the child goes to school or she is trained for some type of work. At least if the child is in school when you stop the welfare, there will be teachers to observe if the child is starving, or doesn’t have a winter coat. Then they can call the welfare department, and they will more than likely take custody of the child . Then they will pay a Foster parent (some which are single) and pay them triple what they gave the mom.
Our welfare system is a big mess in this country, but please,  let’s not take it out on the children.
Lillian S

of course they should how are they supposed to care for their baby without any kind of help. they should be able to receive help till the child starts school. and then get in a work program or school programs.
Donna c

I have never had a problem with the state helping mothers (wed or unwed) if they cannot adequately take care of their child. My (and I suspect many others) problem is with the individuals that CONTINUE to keep having children with the expectation that the state should up their aid without comment or in any other way “interfering with their reproductive rights”. NO WAY!! If I and my tax dollars are going to pay for their continued reproduction, then I am going to have plenty to say and I say “STOP” until you can afford it yourself.
How about a flat fee per mother regardless of number of children?
Seamus K

A woman who has children during a marriage, then finds herself without a husband, for whatever reason, is certainly entitled to some help; but if a woman, or a man, has a child outside of wedlock- then they should not be entitled to welfare benefits- It’s not my responsibility to support her/him.  I chose to stay single and childless and in this economy have a hard enough time supporting myself- why should I have to support someone who made poor decisions?
I do feel however, that regardless of the situation, children in the home of low income adults should receive some limited assistance for basic medical care and food.
Karen L

Here we go again with wisdom from Chairman Carcieri.
I see why he thinks Bush is a great President.
If Carcieri is so concerned about the Rhode Island economy,
what has he been doing for the last 4 years. Not much.
How about some jobs? So people won’t have to go on welfare.
Rhode Island is dead last, #50 for business. Work on that problem.
The truth is that Rhode Island loves low wage illegals
that have kids, why do you think they come here.
get real

One of the problems is our young try to imitate hollywood stars and professional athletes who seem to be in competition to see how many children the can have outside of wedlock. Maybe we should have an idol worship tax. If they want to be an idol they can pay for it.

i think people need to be responsible, when you work for a company and you decide to have a baby do you think for one moment that you can go to your boss and say i’m having another baby i need more money, and it’s handed to you?
don’t think so, if you can’t afford them, you don’t have them….......
Karen

The question that I have for the governor is this; What about the fathers?  What about the fathers who refuse to pay childsupport?  Why is the state not doing more to get the fathers of these children to pay their fair share?  So that the mothers wouldn’t have to turn to the state to receive cash welfare benefits? 
I am a single mother of 4 children.  Over the years I have had to depend on childcare assistance, Rite care, and on occasion foodstamps and cash benefits, solely because my ex-husband refuses to help support his children, and the state does nothing about it.  My ex-husband has not paid a dime in child support in almost 8 years.  He owes almost $200,000, I would love to know why more isn’t being done to find my ex-husband and force him to pay the child-support he owes.  This man quit a job that paid him $60,000 a year (in 1999) on the day his paycheck was garnished in an attempt to force him to pay his child support.  He then moved out of state and has quit every job he has had when the state does find him and tries to garnish his pay.  Now I am made out to be the bad guy for not being able to support 4 children on my own?  I have put myself through school, while running a business and single handedly caring for 4 children.  I will be graduating from Rhode Island College with a degree in accounting in about a month, and will be sitting for the CPA exam within the next 6 months.  I will not be made to feel like a lazy, no good person simply because I was unable to independently support the 4 children I had with my ex-husband.  Children are not born by one person alone.  I think it is unfair that the mothers are being singled out here, while nothing is being said about the deadbeat fathers.  If the deadbeat fathers would pay their child support, most of the women on welfare wouldn’t need it. 
Anne A

I agree wholeheartedly with Governor Carcieri: women who can’t afford to support babies shouldn’t have them, period. If women (single or married) are on welfare and get pregnant, they absolutely should not be able to sit back and collect benefits, while we, the hardworking taxpayers, support them. 
Anon.

These women (and the babies’ fathers) need to take responsibility for their actions and kids. It’s not MY (or your) job to do so. Stop the payments and see how fast the flood of welfare babies dries up.
Dee

Who are we to judge if they should be helped?
Isn’t it interesting that we can sit in our comfy world and summarily judge others without all the information.
Robert P

Single moms/parents are the ones that need welfare.  My daughter is a single mom working full time, trying to pay for a car, rent, food, day care and other every day necessities on a small pay check.  She asked about getting food stamps and some assistance and was told she didn’t qualify for food stamps or any welfare help.  They then told her if she quit he job to stay home, they would help her with welfare.  Now go figure that.  She is trying to do it on her own and she gets kick down.  She enjoys working and does not want to be on total welfare.  All she needs is a little help, and can’t get any.  The welfare system in this state is so screwed up that it may never be fixed.
Su

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